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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finally have a firm date for when it will roll out REAL ID requirements across the United States. On May 7th, all travelers passing through a security checkpoint will need to show a valid US Passport or a REAL ID obtained from their state of residence.
May 7th is when this begins, but many travelers will be able to skirt this rule until 2027. I’m not sure how this will work if it becomes enforceable in May. It seems like the phased approach is more for the agency’s benefit in enforcing it versus the passenger being able to not hold a proper ID. The two agencies formalized the date and a two-year phased period, which means you could have until May 2027 to become compliant depending on what your local airport does to handle implementation. The Real ID Act was passed by Congress 20 years ago in 2005. It was created to establish minimum security standards for the issuance and production of state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards. Real ID-compliant licenses have a star, a flag, or say enhanced on the upper corner of the card.
Currently, around 56% of driver’s licenses are compliant. This means that many people (including myself) have not upgraded their IDs to meet requirements set by the Real ID Act. The process is more intensive and requires more documentation to obtain a REAL ID. When my driver’s license was up for renewal in June 2024, I stood in line to get a replacement. I did not have my social security card with me and was denied a REAL ID (I did get a new license). I’m sure that many people have had similar situations.
Anthony’s Take: It looks like May 7th will finally be the day for REAL ID implementation. Let’s see how this rolls out. I need to make an appointment at the Chicago DMV.
(Image Credits: Department of Homeland Security.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
1 comment
If people are forced to comply, they will. If they’re not, they won’t. It’s as easy as that